Folding table



Dec. 3, 1935.

W. P. DE SAUSSURE, JR

FOLDING TABLE Filed Dec. 24, 1934 2 Sheets-.Sheet l INVENTOR ma; www;

BY Z t Z MATTORNEY Dec. 3, 1935.

w. P. DE sAUssURE, JR

FOLDING TABLE Filed Dec. 24, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 BY u- ATTORNEYPatented Dec. 3, 1935 UNITED STATES FOLDING TABLE William P. DeSaussure, Jr., Englewood, N. J., assignor to De Saussurek EquipmentCompany, West New York, N. J., a corporation of Dela- Ware ApplicationDecember 24, 1934, Serial No. 758,897

6 Claims.

This invention relates to tables having folding legs. The invention aimsto provide an improved folding leg table of the type which has the legsconnected in pairs which are pivotally mounted to fold inward to lieparallel with the table top. and are connected by means whereby wheneither pair of legs is folded or unfolded the other pair will besimilarly moved; and to .provide a folding table which shall be strongand rigidA when the legs are extended even though the top be made oflight thin material such as thinl ply board.

"To these ends, the two pairs of legs oi' a table according to theinvention are mo-unted between two parallel spaced side bars beneath thetable top, one pair of legs being xedly pivoted to the side bars and theother pair of legs havingI their ends pivotally and slidably connectedto the side bars and being pivotally connected at points spaced from butnear their upper ends to links which are fixedly pivoted to the siderbars, and connecting rods extending parallel to the side bars arepivotally connected at one end to the sliding ends of the second pair oflegs and ,at their other ends to the sliding ends of links which areconnected at one end to the l'lrst pair of legs at points spaced frombut near their upper ends and at the other end are pivotally andslidably connected to the side bars. By this .arrangement, when eitherpair of legs is moved from its folded to its unfolded position or fromitsvunfolded to its folded position, the other pair of legs will vbesimilarly moved, the movement being transmitted yby endwise movement ofthe connecting rods. Most desirably, and in accordance with theinvention, the side bars are connected to form va rigid frame, so thatthe side bars and the legs and the operating connections form a unitapart from the table top, the frame providing a support for the tabletop to which it may be secured in any suitable manner.

A full understanding of the invention can best be given by a detaileddescription of a table embodying all the features of the 'invention inthe form now considered best and such description will now begiven inconnection with the accompanying drawings showing such a table. .In

. said drawings:-

2-2 of Fig, 1,

legs in folded position;

Figl is a side elevation of the table with the legs in unfolded orextended position;

fFig. 5 isa section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1

z with `the legsl extended;

Fig. 6 is a. section on the line 5`6 of Fig. 1 with the legs extended;

Figs. 7 to 11, inclusive, are detail views showing the operation of themeans for locking the legs in extended position; and `5 Fig. l2 is aperspective viewof one of the catches which hold the legs in extendedposition.

The table shown comprises a Wooden top I0, a rectangular metallic frameII on which the top rests and to which it may be secured in any 10suitable manner, as by means of rivets, and two pairs of folding legs I2and I3. The frame comprises two spaced parallelV side bars I 4 and I5formed of angle bars set with one liange horizontal and the other flangedepending vertically, 15 two end members I6 and I1 rigidly connected tothe side bars and which may also be formed of .angle bars, and anintermediate cross bar I8 eX- tending between the side bars. The endbars and the intermediate bar are desirably connected V20 to the sidebars by spot welded angle pieces I9. The legs are most desirably formedof rectangular metal tubing, and the two legs of' each pair areconnected by a cross bar 2t which may also be of rectangular tubing andwhich is secured to 25 the Alegs by spot welded plates 2I. A handle 22is provided for convenience in carrying the table when folded.

The legs of one pair, as the legs l2, are pivotally connected to thevertical flanges of the side-'30 bars to swing about fixed points 25.The other pair of legs., I 3, are pivotally and slidably connected tothe vertical flanges of the side bars by pivots 26 extendingthroughlongitudinal slots 21 in said flanges, and at points spaced from butnear their upper ends these legs are connected by pivots 28 to links 29,the other ends of which are pivotally connected to the vertical flangesof the side bars at fixed points 3E). This pair of legs will, therefore,in being moved between its folded and unfolded position, swing about thepivots 28 on the links 2e, and as the legs change their angular positiontheir pivot pins 26 will slide in the slots 21 and the links will swingbetween the position shown in Figs. 2 and 4 and a position in 45 whichthey lie substantially parallel with the side bars and the folded legs.

Two connecting rods 35, one extending outside of and generally parallelto the vertical fiange of each of the side bars I4 and I5, are connected50 each at one end to one of the sliding pivots 26. At its other endeach of the connecting rods 35 is pivotally connected by a pivot pin 36extending through a longitudinal slot 31 in the vertical flange of theadjacent side bar to a link 38, the'55 the pivots 26 and 28 of the legsI3.

.The two` pairs of legs are thus pivotally mount- `60 ed and connectedthrough the connecting rods 35 and links 36 whereby if either pair ismoved angularly between its folded and unfolded position the other pairwill be given asimilar movement in the opposite direction, so that ifeither pair of legs is moved from its folded to its unfolded, orextended, position the other'pair willY Vbe simultaneously extended, andif either pair is moved from its extended to its folded position. the

other pair will simultaneously be moved to its folded position.

As the connecting rods are guided at each endV by the pins 26 and 36sliding in the aligned slots 21 and 31 and move only endwise, they arenot subjected to any bending strain and may conseduently be ofcomparatively light weight even when the table is of such'length as'torequire vcomparatively long connecting rods and of comparatively heavyconstruction. The connecting rods are most desirably made` of iiatstrips of Ysteel or other ,suitableY material lying close against theoutside of the downwardly extending flanges of the side bars. The rodsare thus prenected to the outer sides of the legs and to the inner sidesof the vertical flanges of the side bars. The .links are most desirablyformed of flat strips Vof steel or other suitable material, and thelinks 38 which transmit the moving force between the legs I2 and theconnecting rods 35 most desirably have spot-welded thereto at theirvinner ends a short metal strip 4I obliquely bent into U-shape to providethe link with a forked end which embraces the vertical flange of theside bar andthe end of the connecting rod 35. There is thus pro- .videdspaced bearings for the pivot 35 between which the pivot is engaged bythe rodr35. 1 In order that, when the legs I2 are swung outward fromtheir folded position, the pull of the connecting rods 35 on theY pivots26 shall be effective at the beginning of the outward movement Vof thelegs I2 to start the outward swing of .the legs I3, the pivots 28 are,as shown, placed nearer to the outer edge of the legs I3 than the pivots26 and nearer to the outer edge of the links 29 than the pivots Sli sothat when the legs are in folded positionV the pivots 23 will lie belowa Yplane passing through the pivots 26 in the direction of pull oftherods 35; Similarly,l in order Vthat,'when the legs I3 are pulledoutward. from their folded position, the thrust of the connecting rodsonthe pivot 35 shall be effective to start the :outward swing of thelegs I2, the pivots 39 are placed nearer to the outer edge of the legs I2k than the pivots 25 and nearer toI the outer edge of the links 38 thanthe pivots 36, so that when the legs are in folded position the pivots39 will lie below a plane passing through the pivots 25 in the directionof the thrust' ofthe rods 35. With the pivots so' arranged, it isunnecessary to pull on` both pairs of legsto start them from their Yfolding position, pulling onV one'pair serving to.

start and thereafter complete f the unfolding movement of the otherpair.Y Y

The legs are locked in unfolded or extended position by meansco-operating with the connecting rods 35 to hold the rods againstlongitudinal movement. For this purpose a rocking locking bar 45 isprovided extending transversely across the table with its endsjournalled in and extending through openings in the vertical flanges ofthe side bars I4 and I5 in position to bear against the upper edge of.theI connecting rods andto hold the rods flexed slightly downwardbetween the pivots 25 and 36 by which they are Supported. i The upperedge of each rod is cut out to provide a shoulder 45 against which theend of the bar 45 engages when the legs are in extended position and theconnecting rods have been moved to the position shown in Figs. 4 andYl0. When i the connecting rods are moved to this position they springupward so that the shoulders 4I are engaged by the ends of the bar. Thelocking bar is provided with an'operating piece or wing 41 whereby thebar may be rocked, and the ends of the bar are formed each with aflattened cam face rso that when the bar is rocked from the positionshown in Figs. 4 and 10 to that shown in Fig. 11 the edge of the camface which is away from the shoulder 46 acts to depress the connectingrod and at the same time the edge of the cam face in engagement with theshoulder is raised so that if the table legs are then swung inward fromtheir extended position and the connecting rods thereby moved totheright from the position e shown in Figs. 4, l0 and. 11, the cam faces ofthe rocking bar will ride'over the shoulder further depressingtheconnecting rods to permit the connecting rods toV move to the right.

The connecting rods are desirably provided f3 each with a shallow notch49 for receiving the end of the locking bar when the connecting rods arein folded leg position. These notches are formed with inclined sides soas not to prevent endwise-movement of the connecting rods when "4 it isdesired to unfold the table legs,V but they serve normally to hold thelegs in folded position, the resistancey to endwise movement resultingfrom entrance of the ends of the locking bar into these notches beingsufficient to serve this purpose.

ing bar bear were made to extend parallel to the N I direction ofmovement of the rods, the deflection 5 of the rods under the pressure ofthe ends ofthe locking bar would increase as the points of engagement ofthe ends of the locking bar were shifted in the direction from themiddle of the rods toward either end of the rods, that is, in thearrangement shown, as the rods moved to theV right or toward theposition shown in Figs. 3 and Y '7. To avoid this,'the upper edgeofthe'connect- Y ing rods against which the ends'of the locking bar bearbetweenV the shoulder 46 and the notch 49 is made to slope slightlydownward in the direction from the shoulder 46 toward the end of thebar. This slight slope of the bearing edge of the rodsV is convenientlyprovided by forming the connecting rods from strips Yhaving parallel 5straight edges and bending'the rods slightlyiupj ward between theirsupported ends as shown..

It is to be understood that while the invention is especiallyradapt'edfor embodiment in a table1 of such length that the legs when folded donotl 70 overlap, yet the invention clearly is not limitedY in itsapplication to such tables; also, Vthat the invention 'is not to beotherwise limited to the 'exact construction Yand arrangement of partsshown and to which the foregoing description has l"i5 been largelyconfined, but that it includes changes and modiiications thereof withinthe claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A folding leg table, comprising two parallel spaced side membersprojecting downwardly beneath the table top, a pair of legs pivotallyconnected to said side members near one end of the table, another pairof legs pivotally and slidably connected to the side bars near the otherend of the table, links pivotally connected to the rst pair of legs atpoints spaced from but near their upper ends and pivotally and slidablyconnected to the side members, links pivotally connected to the secondpair of legs at points spaced from but near their upper ends andpivotally connected to the side members, and connecting rods extendingparallel to the side members and pivotally connected at one end to theslidable end of the links of the first pair of legs and at the other endto the slidable end of the second pair of legs.

2. A folding leg table, comprising two parallel spaced side membersprojecting downwardly beneath the table top, a pair of legs pivotallyconnected to said side members near one end of the table, another pairof legs pivotally and slidably connected to the side bars near the otherend of the table, links pivotally connected to the iirst pair of legs atpoints spaced from but near their upper ends and pivotally and slidablyconnected to the side members, links pivotally connected to the secondpair of legs at points spaced from but near their upper ends andpivotally connected tothe side members, connecting rods extendingparallel to the side members and pivotally connected at one end to theslidable end of the links of the first pair of legs and at the other endto the slidable end of the second pair of legs, and a latch co-operatingwith one of said connecting rods for releasably holding the legs inunfolded position.

3. A folding leg table, comprising two parallel spaced side membersprojecting downwardly beneath the table top, a pair of legs pivotallyconnected to said side members near one end of the table, another pairof legs pivotally and slidably connected to the side bars near the otherend of the table, links pivotally connected to the rst pair of legs atpeints spaced from but near their upper ends and pivotally and slidablyconnected to the side members, links pivotally connected to the secondpair of legs at points spaced from but near their upper ends andpivotally connected to the side members, connecting rods extendingparallel to the side members and pivotally connected at one end to theslidable end of the links of the iirst pair of legs and at the other endto the slidable end of the second pair of legs, and means for releasablylocking the legs in unfolded position comprising a rocking bar extendingtransversely of the connecting rods and mounted to bear against one ofthe connecting rods, said connecting rod having a shoulder positioned tobe engaged by the rocking bar when the legs are in unfolded position,and means for rocking said bar to release the connecting rod.

4. A folding leg table, comprising two parallel spaced side membersprojecting downwardly beneath the table tcp, a pair of legs pivotallyconnected to said side members near one end of the table, another pairof legs pivotally and slidably connected to the side bars near the otherend of the table, links pivotally connected to the rst pair of legs atpoints spaced from but near their `upper ends and pivotally and slidablyconnected to the side members, links pivotally connected to the secondpair of legs at points spaced from but near their upper ends andpivotally connected to the side members, connecting rods extendingparallel to the side members and pivotally connected at one end to theslidable end of the links of the iirst pair of legs and at the other endto the slidable end of the second pair of legs, and means for releasablylocking the legs in unfolded position comprising a rocking bar extendingtransversely of the connecting rods and having its ends journalled inopenings in the side members positioned to cause the bar to bear againstand slightly flex the connecting rods, the connecting rods havingshoulders positioned to be engaged by the rocking bar when the legs arein unfolded position and the rod-engaging portions of the locking barbeing shaped to provide cam faces whereby when the bar is rocked oneedge of each cam face will force the connecting rod away from therocking bar and the other edge of the cam face will rise clear of theshoulder, and means for rocking the bar.

5. A folding leg table, comprising a table top,

`a rigid frame formed of two parallel side members and connecting endmembers, a pair of legs pivotally connected to said side members nearone end of the table, another pair of legs pivotally and slidablyconnected to the side bars near the other end of the table, linkspivotally connected to the first pair of legs at points spaced from butnear their upper ends and pivotally and slidably connected to the sidemembers, links pivotally connected to the second pair of legs at pointsspaced from but near their upper ends and pivotally connected to theside members, and connecting rods extending parallel to the side membersand pivotally connected at one end to the slidable end of the links ofthe first pair of legs and at the other end to the slidable end of thesecond pair of legs, the frame and legs and operating connectionsforming a complete unit apart from the table top and the table topresting on and being secured to the frame.

6. A folding leg table, comprising a table top, a rectangular metalframe composed of end members and parallel side members formed by anglebars arranged with one flange horizontal and the other iiange extendingvertically downward therefrom, a pair of legs pivotally connected to thevertical flanges of the side members, another pair of legs pivotally andslidably connected to the vertical iianges of the side members by pivotpins extending through longitudinal slots in said flanges, linkspivotally connected to the first pair of legs at points spaced from butnear their upper ends and pivotally and slidably connected to saidflanges by pins extending through longitudinal slots in the anges, linkspivotally connected to the second pair of legs at points spaced from butnear their upper ends and pivotally connected to said flanges, andconnecting rods extending parallel to and outside of said flanges andconnected at one end to the pivot extending from the slidable end of thelinks of the iirst pair of legs and at the other end to the pivotextending from the slidable end of the second pair of legs.

WILLIAM P. DE SAUSSURE, J R.

